Latino Project #4: Lisseth Rosales - Mary Kay

Meet Lisseth Rosales. Lisseth is originally from El Salvador...when she was 18 years old, her parents moved to Canada...the middle of Canada! In Canada, Lisseth went to college and received a degree in Graphic Design. In 2001, she moved to Florida for a job. A little after she moved here, she met her husband, Matthew West (he attended SCAD & also has a degree in Graphic Design). In 2003, Lisseth & Matthew married...and had children. Lisseth left her full-time work to stay at home with her kids...but later decided to work for Mary Kay because as she puts it - she loves building relationships!

Here's a few fotos from our shoot...enjoy!

Oh...Lisseth also homeschools her children!

Latino Project #3: Tina Fader - Vanguard Realty

Latino Project presents to you, Tina Fader! Tina is Puerto Rican! Her mother was born in Puerto Rico...her father - in Hawaii? Yes...many Puerto Ricans were recruited to move to Hawaii to work in the fields. Hurricanes ripped up the sugarcane industry in Puerto Rico...hence, causing a worldwide shortage in sugar. The pressure was on Hawaii now. So Hawaiians hired unemployed, yet skilled Puerto Ricans to work the fields. Voila! And that's how a Puerto Rican comes from Hawaii!

Tina was born in Hampton, VA. She has lived in Miami and New York City. She now resides in Jacksonville. Tina is a Realtor for Vanguard. You can visit her online here.

Here's few fotos from today. Enjoy!

Latino Project #2: Michelle Dearing - Oeil Photography

#2 of my personal project...yes, my voyage to photographically document the working Latino/a in Jacksonville...

Today I introduce you to the very talented photographer, Michelle (Hernandez) Dearing. Michelle is the person behind Oeil Photography...go check out her work for yourself!

Michelle is 100% Mexican (both of her parents are from Mexico). Michelle was born in Los Angeles...and then moved to Texas...and then Pensacola...and now she's here in Jacksonville. Michelle is married with two boys. Michelle's husband serves in the military.

Here's a few fotos from our session today...enjoy!

Latino Project #1: Judy Galindo - Hola Noticias!

Hopefully this will be the first of many. I'm working on a personal project. My goal is photograph at least 40 working Latinos in Jacksonville. So hopefully, this will be the first of many.

Let me try to quickly explain my motivation. It started a few years ago while working for the Neighborhood Partnership for Protection of Children. Working there I quickly realized how many Latinos were working in the Social Services profession here in Jacksonville. As a matter of fact, my supervisor was Mexican! As I thought deeper about this, I realized that my father, who is also Mexican, served in the military (even went to Vietnam)...and had been working over 30 years with Chicago Public Schools. Then I thought even deeper and noticed my mother, who is from Puerto Rico, worked for HRS (DCF). My mother worked for a program called Project Independence - she helped the unemployed find jobs. So after these deep thoughts, I marveled how my parents and many friends came from different lands...and settled here in the United States...and furthermore, they chose a profession to help others in need. This made me proud. So these thoughts from a few years back + my photography = this personal project!

Today, the project starts with Judy Galindo. Judy is the Editor-in-Chief for the newspaper, Hola Noticias. She founded Hola Noticias in Jacksonville in 2004. Judy is originally from Colombia. She has a degree in Journalism. The newspaper's goals are to offer news that is relevant to the reader and to link the readers to resources. Here's a few pictures. Enjoy!